Upfront

Mar2008

Bring Out the Visionary Award

Quentin Tarantino (right) was honored recently with the 6th Annual Ray-Ban Visionary Award, presented by Ray-Ban and The Creative Coalition, at Harry O’s in Park City, Utah during the Sundance Film Festival. Many of Tarantino’s friends and peers were on hand at the event including Harvey and Bob Weinstein, Tim Daly, Sandra Oh and Marcia Gay Harden. The evening concluded with a
special musical performance by American synth rock band The Bravery.

“It’s particularly cool to get an award from Ray-Ban,” said Tarantino during his acceptance speech. “When I’m writing my scripts, the only time I’ve ever really used the brand names as opposed to describing what something is, is Zippo lighters and Ray-Bans. ‘He puts on his Ray-Bans as he flips on his Zippo.’”

Dennis Hopper (top photo), whom Quentin directed in his 1993 hit “True Romance” and 2008’s “Hell Ride,” presented him with the award designed as a pair of gold-plated Wayfarers, one of Ray-Ban’s most iconic styles.

An Oscar-winning screenwriter and Palme D’Or-winning director, Tarantino rose to stardom with the 1992 Sundance debut of “Reservoir Dogs” and has since achieved legendary cult status with such films as “Pulp Fiction,” “Grindhouse,” “Jackie Brown” and “Kill Bill.”